So short

There’s luck in feeling free
free to be, anyway
eyes wide to memorize
the colored leaves before they disappear
as I know they will
such a short life they have
talk about being here today and blown tomorrow!
they know it, live it
those leaves accept their brief life every year
Who am I to complain?
those cells know what it’s like to be on the tree,
set free, and then crushed underfoot
Eyes wide, I love them as they hang on their last glorious day
the car flies through the orange
and my soul tries to swallow the sight